Beyond the often serious and direct consequences of the disease itself, patients with an STI risk transmitting the disease to their partner(s), developing cancers, sterility, and for pregnant women, infecting their foetus.

For the traveller, the risk of sexually transmitted infections is very real, and all the more so if the index of development in the visited country is low.

What are the signs of an STI and how do you treat it?

More often than not, the person who transmits the STI is unaware that he/she even has it. Someone who has just been contaminated risks contaminating someone else even before clinical signs begin to appear.

Symptoms occur more or less rapidly. A diagnosis is not always that easy and can require long investigations. The treatments are often long and restricting, and can cause undesirable after effects. In addition, they do not always guarantee that one is cured.

In case a condom accidentally tears, you must immediately seek medical advice to evaluate the risks of a possible STI transmission, particularly regarding the AIDS virus, and decide together whether or not to begin an antiviral preventive treatment.

How to prevent STI

Aside from Hepatitis B, there are no vaccines against these infections, so prevention is absolutely essential! All valid recommendations are good for application in your home country and around the world. The only sure way to avoid being contaminated by an STI is to abstain from sexual activity. For most people who do not want to go to this extreme, it is essential to systematically use a condom.

A final recommendation is never to walk barefoot. Certain STIs (often the most serious like AIDS or Hepatitis) are not only sexually transmitted but also transmitted via the bloodstream. An abandoned syringe or needle in the sand can accidently prick you. It is easy to avoid this risk by always wearing shoes, and this goes for your children too, when you are walking about, even in the hotel gardens and especially along the beaches.

If you have any problems whilst travelling, don’t wait until you get home to consult a doctor. Allianz Global Assistance’s emergency medical team is available to discuss any questions or doubts you may have about your health. We can provide useful advice and organize a consultation wherever you are.

Millions of people rely on us! With 1 intervention every 2 seconds, Allianz Global Assistance is the worldwide leader in travel insurance and assistance services. With a range of cover for individuals, couples and families with Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip, Backpacker and Winter Sports options: our global network will have you covered 24/7.